It had been two weeks and ten hours since I’d been sitting on the porch with Thalia in my arms, and I’d missed her like crazy, which was totally insane considering I’d only known her for a short time.
After she’d gone upstairs to dress, I’d hurried to my room and packed a bag. On my way out, I’d bumped into Liam and when I told him I was bunking with Donovan for a while, he’d shaken his head. He’d known the reason I was leaving, although it stayed unspoken between us.
I’d thrown myself into work, which had given me headache after headache thanks to the couple who wanted a divorce one day and to live happily ever after the next. Then back to square one the following day. They had basically driven me crazy and my dad had told them not to enter his practice again until they were one hundred percent certain it was what they wanted.
Donovan, Reece and our music had prevented me from going completely mad. Ryder had decided that we made the most money for him so he’d keep us for Wednesday and Saturday evenings, which suited us fine.
A couple of days after I’d moved in with Donovan, Mia had come paying me a visit, wanting to know what was going on. Mia had looked – odd – and I still couldn’t put my finger on what had been wrong with her.
It was nearly four weeks to the wedding and it was creeping closer and closer to d-day. I needed to put a stop to it once and for all, but yeah, I kept putting it off.
Donovan had said I could stay with him for as long as I wanted too, so at least accommodation wasn’t a problem. If I was honest no matter how much I hated them occasionally, I didn’t want to lose my family. My mom wouldn’t be too bad, but my dad would be pissed to hell and back and I wasn’t too sure he’d come round, and carry on paying my tuition.
“I’ve been sitting in front of you now for about five minutes and not once have you acknowledged me.”
I blinked in surprise, ran my hands through my hair and looked at Donovan. “My life is so fucking screwed up. Have you got any idea how bad Mia is going to react when I tell her the charade is over and the wedding is off? She’s going to be so pissed. I just pray my dad doesn’t react the way he said he would if I don’t go through with it.”
Sitting back I looked out into the forest, spotting a squirrel, which I watched for a short time, munching on some berries.
“Do you want some advice?” Donovan broke the silence.
“Do I get a choice?”
“Wear body armor,” Donovan suggested as we heard a car pull up outside the cabin.
Neither of us moved, but hearing the beep from the lock engaging I knew it was Mia and by the look Donovan threw at me, so did he. She was the only one I knew who locked her car.
“I’m inside if you need me. Get it over with before it’s too late.” With that he disappeared through the door.
“Jack, what the hell are you doing living in this dump?” she asked marching up the steps.
Why she always insisted on calling Donovan’s home a dump, I had no idea because it was always spotless. His parents had been killed in a car accident two years ago, and for some reason Donovan always had to keep the place neat as a pin, like his mom used to keep it.
“Nice to see you too.” I tried to ignore her, but no such luck. She was standing with her back against the porch railing, after testing it to make sure it was secure.
Yeah, I hid a smile.
“We need to talk about the wedding and the fact that I don’t want, you know who, standing for you.”
I gulped the rest of my beer down and slowly put the empty bottle on the floor at my feet while I watched her. “I need to talk to you about the wedding.”
“I’m waiting.”
Sighing, I asked, “Do you love me, Mia?”
She opened her mouth to reply then shut it again. “What kind of question is that?” she finally asked, standing up and flickering her keys in agitation.
“A simple yes or no will do.”
“Well, do you love me?” she asked me with one of her come-hither looks, which I seemed to be immune to.
It was now or never. “No, I don’t.”
Her face fell as she fussed with her bag.
“You still haven’t answered me.”
“We’ll start to love each other. What does love matter? Now about your...friends.”
Fuck.
“Let’s not discuss my friends; they are not open for discussion. They’re more than friends; they’re like family. Do you want to marry me?”
She hesitated. “Jack, stop asking stupid questions. Of course I want to marry you. You’re just being silly.”
Sitting up, I rested my elbows on my knees and stared at her. “I can’t marry you Mia.” I’d said it, now to face the music.
“Yes well, we both know the wedding will be going ahead, so I suggest you get any fantasies you are having out of your head, because this wedding will take place in four weeks. Now as you’re unwilling to cooperate about guests, mainly the two you want to be part of the wedding party, I’ll leave you alone to do whatever it is you do up here,” she said without missing a beat, leaving me stunned on the porch.
“Don’t just sit there, go after her and finish this,” Donovan said, walking out onto the porch.